Inspired by Towncrier - My Snoring/Sleep Apnea Testimonial...

[jfulcer]

It was a hard thing to do - admit I had a snoring problem and actually go to see a Doctor for it. But when I realized I was not only waking up DW, but DD also with my snoring, I went in.

I snored ALL night long. Tossed and turned, sweated like there was no tommorrow. I was sleepy all the time during the day. I couldn't drive 15 minutes without taking measures to make sure I didn't nod off. I had no energy.

Sounds like your DW or DH?

I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea - my throat pretty much relaxed to the point that I had stopped breathing. Your body realizes this and wakes you up. I was waking up <b>62</b> times an <b>hour</b> because of this. I never got good sleep. The doctor pretty much told me I really didn't need to bother going to sleep it was so bad.

Now I sleep with a CPAP machine and a mask over my nose that forces pressurized air through my nose, and that stops the snoring. It also stops the Sleep Apnea.

I now have a TON more energy and don't worry about falling asleep while driving. My blood pressure has gone down (didn't know high blood pressure was partially caused by this!!) and I sleep like a rock at night. Better yet, so do DW and DD. I even take my CPAP machine to WDW with me.

Interesting enough it seems to be herditary! After I was diagnosed, my dad and two uncles have been diagnosed.

So if YOU or someone you knows has these symptoms, PLEASE get yourself or the person you know tested. It's painless, and most insurance companies will cover it. Mine was covered 100%, and my dad's covered his 90%. It's still worth it.

 

[BethR]

Very interesting jfulcer! I am so glad that you got to the Doctor and are feeling so well. And I am sure that you DW and DD appreciate it too.

 

[KimRaye]

Wow Jeff, thanks for the info! Sorry to hear you have to suffer with this but, I'll bet DW & DD are much happier sleepers now, too!

Is the machine something you have forever now?

{{HUGS}}

 

[Kteacher]

good for you!! My DH still thinks he doesn't snore-this after one of my kids tape recorded it ( he said the recording was fixed)

 

[Lars624]

My MIL has the same problem. She did a sleep study at U of M and now she uses the machine at night. The kids got a big kick out of how she looked in the face mask She told DS6 she waws a spaceman LOL

 

[figmentvi]

Oh heavens Jeff I wish my DH would do the same thing. I haven't had a decent nights sleep in 13 years.

Glad to hear that your getting the rest you need now.

 

[Mskanga]

Would you please talk to dh?? He snores so loud that he wakes me up ( and I'm a heavy sleeper ) , and you can actually hear him from another room. He usually wakes me up several times a night and I ended up setting up a spare bed in my computer room and when I get tired of kicking him because he wakes me up , then I go to the other bed. To this day he still says he does not snore that bad....yet the kids tell him they can hear him from downstairs!

 

[Doctor P]

Another severe sleep apnea sufferer right here. I had the full blown surgery and still have a severe case that requires heavy duty CPAP therapy (though, the surgery was certainly necessary and very helpful--I might actually be dead by now if I did not do it!). It is a very serious and common problem that is grossly underdiagnosed.

 

[Lanshark]

Who do you go to to have this diagnosed? How is it diagnosed?

I have always believe my Dad has this problem.

 

[Meriweather]

MY DH also uses a CPAP machine.....best thing we ever did.

It took him 2 years to admit the problemwas severe enough to do something about.
He was falling asleep everytime he sat still.
I wasn't getting any sleep. I would have to go downstairs on the other side of the house to get any sleep.

Now it is great. He sleeps well, is rested. I sleep well. I'm a very light sleeper and the "white" noise put out by the machine is not bothersome at all.

He has used it for 5 years now.

 

[Deb in IA]

Great to hear you are doing well, Jeff.

YES, there is a relationship between OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) and hypertension, and possibly stroke. This is actually my husband's primary research area, and he co-authored one of the first papers describing this relationship in the NEJM (New England Journal of Medicine).

Lanshark, I would advise you to first discuss this with your husband's primary care physician, who may already have a referral source. If that is not helpful, check out this site:
http://www.aasmnet.org/
Under the PUBLIC button, you will find a listing of accredited sleep centers, which should be able to assess and treat your husband.

Good luck!

 

[fklhou]

I have been using a CPAP for about five years now. If you want to look at different type of masks or headgear, try www.cpapman.com. I got an adapter for my CPAP machine so I can take it on camping trips with the boy scouts.

I take my CPAP on trips and for some reason, the secuirty people at Dallas Love Field keep asking me what the machine is.

 

[RNMOM]

Some of us ladies use them too. I don't use a mask, I use the NasalAir canula type nasal mask. It is very comfortable. I have a very short nose and small face, the masks leaked into my eyes and break out my face. This mask solved all that and is very comfortable.

Ask you doctor about being tested...it is very easy and not embarassing at all.

 

[jfulcer]

Originally posted by Mskanga
Would you please talk to dh?? He snores so loud that he wakes me up ( and I'm a heavy sleeper ) , and you can actually hear him from another room. He usually wakes me up several times a night

mskanga, if he's waking you up that much, he's waking himself up but he doesn't realize it. It's a painless, easy test to take. After a consultation with a sleep dr, he will more than likely be scheduled for a test. You should make sure you go with him to the consultation to make sure the Dr understands everything that is going on. DW and I talked about it extensively beforehand so I knew more of my symptoms.

If anything, tell him it's like a stay at a hotel, with some wires hooked up to his thick ( ) skull for testing. He doesn't have to do <i> anything</i> at all except sleep. No poking, no prodding, no drugs, nutin! How easy is that? I just had a friend tested last night and he called me this morning and said his rest with the mask (they put one on you halfway through the night if it looks like Apnea) was the best rest he's had in years.

Show him this thread. This is one of the best things I've done for my marraige besides remembering anniversaries.

 

[kylara]

I also suggest that anyone who is having a problem get tested. I had two sleep studies done because I was sooooooo tired all the time. I was falling asleep without even realizing it til I woke up. I would "zone out" while driving...be aware of other cars around me but not the big picture. Well my SO said that I snore every once and a while so the Dr. decided to test me for apnea. Well the first test showed that I didn't have apnea but instead I fell asleep quicker than I should and went into REM quicker than I should. A second test (in which I stayed all the next day for naps) showed I am borderline for having narcolepsy (the doctor calls it that but since it is borderline doesn't put it as the "official" diagnosis for permanent record). I am now taking medication for narcolespy and it has helped tremendously. Also was prescribed allergy pills since they figure that is where the occasional snoring came from.

Not living with fatigue is worth mentioning what could be embarassing...trust me, I almost killed my SO when he told my Dr. I snore (and yes, he is not allowed to go to the DR with me anymore), but I am glad I did because I have finally gotten a reason for my fatigue which has plagued me since 1993! and it is being corrected!

Sorry realize it is not the same as apnea, but the sleep study was still a lifesaver for me.

 

[cassie]

I just had a sleep test done recently, and my doctor said I woke up 334 times during my 7 hour test. Another one is scheduled with the CPAP mask. He said something about regulating the oxygen? I'm just glad if it helps me to get a good nights sleep. I can doze all day long sitting up at the computer. I love to read, but after three pages or so I find myself dozing.

 

[jfulcer]

Originally posted by cassie
I just had a sleep test done recently, and my doctor said I woke up 334 times during my 7 hour test. Another one is scheduled with the CPAP mask. He said something about regulating the oxygen? I'm just glad if it helps me to get a good nights sleep. I can doze all day long sitting up at the computer. I love to read, but after three pages or so I find myself dozing.

Cassie, A CPAP is a machine that provides a constant air pressure through a mask over your nose. This prevents the snoring, and keeps your airway open so your body can sleep properly. I wonder why they didn't wake you halfway through the night to test and adjust a CPAP? Regardless, you will be amazed at the difference in your sleep with the machine. I woke 63 times an hour which would be 441 times in that 7 hour period you described.

An amazing indicator of Apnea is blood oxygen content. I'm sure you're seen it on ER - a sensor that just clips onto your finger. My reading was like a yoyo all night long - UNTIL they put me on the CPAP then it leveled off. This is part(most?) of the reason your body keeps waking you up - decreased oxygen to the brain.

 

[cassie]

Jeff...When I was being "wired up" for the study, they told me they may have to wake me during the night to place the mask on. Since they didn't, I was surprised when the doctor told me how many times I awakened. My oxygen level was around 80 during some of the sleep. My next sleep study isn't until Dec 8
But, I'm looking forward to getting it over with.

A question or 2? Just how is the oxygen provided? I know a machine is involved, but is there a bottle of oxygen attached or what?

 

[imgoingtodisney]

DH has been tested and also has sleep apnea. He also uses a CPAP machine. The sound of the machine actually lulls me to sleep.
(This machine and case fly to FL w/DH as an extra carry-on. Its a medical necessity.)

 

[jfulcer]

Originally posted by cassie
A question or 2? Just how is the oxygen provided? I know a machine is involved, but is there a bottle of oxygen attached or what?

There isn't really an 'oxygen' tank. It's just normal air from your room, just the same way a fish tank pumps air into the water.

That's not to say they can't hook oxygen up to it. When I had spinal surgery about a year ago, they asked me to bring my machine and hooked an oxygen line directly up to it for when I slept at night. They wanted to make extra sure I was getting higher levels of Oxygen when I was sleeping.

<B>(This machine and case fly to FL w/DH as an extra carry-on. Its a medical necessity.)</B>

When the company brought the machine out to me, they told me that in addition to the fact you can carry it on as an extra item because of it being a medical necessity, they also made the case that if you checked it and that piece of luggage goes missing most airlines will not cover the cost of replacing it, not to mention you're without the machine during your vacation.